Enclosed variable-speed transmission



2 Sheets-Sheet l L .D NL M. o N H ,M r Nn a P MON M.m VJ. 5 W r @um M A R R T M Feb 29, .1944# c. E. JOHNSON ET AL ENCLOSED VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION y Filed April 9, 194i Feb. 29, 1944. c, JOHNSQN ET AL 2,342,941

ENCLOSED VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION I WE . /N l/E/V TORG f CARL E. do//NJo/v EARL MffvoA/HALL A Trowa-)O vV-belt pulley type.

vout hereinafter.

Patented Feb. 29, 1944 TRANSMISSION Carl E. Johnson, San Marino, and Earl Mendenhall, San Gabriel, Calif., assignors to Sterling Electric Motors, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a cor--- poration of California Application April s, 1941, serial No. 387,644

n claims. (ci. i4- 23mm Our invention relates .to the variable-speed transmission art, and more particularly to a vari.

ofthe variable-diameter able-speed transmission A primary object of our invention is to provide such a transmission enclosed in a housing which speed ratio between the shafts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transmission as described hereinabove in which a novel type of indicating means is provided to indicate on the exterior of the housing the speed rat-io between the shafts therein.

Another object of our invention is to provide a transmission as described above including -a plurality of variable-diameter pulleys on one of the shafts and a plurality of cooperating pulleys on the other shaft and including novel mechanism for interconnecting the variable-diameter pulleys for simultaneous adjustment.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the drawings. which are for. the purpose of illustration only, and in which: 4

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical view, partly in section, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. l..

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical view, partly in section, taken kon the line 4-4 o! Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, we show a housing Ill comprised of an upper half II and a lower half I2, as best shown in Fig. 4. The upper and lower halves II and I 2 of the housing I0 are preferably identical in construction for simplicity and economy in manufacture and assembly and for convenience in installation, as wlllbe pointed The upper and lower halves II and I2 are provided with engaging faces I8 and I4, and in the assembled position the halves are clamped rigidly together as by suitable bolts I5 indicated in Fig. 1.

The lower half I2 of the housing I0 is provided fwith a pair of semi-circular aligned openings I1 and I8 which mate `with similar openings formed in the upper halfII to receive cover plates I 9 and 20, respectively. Similarly, the lower half I2 is provided with openings 22 and 23 which mate with similar openings formed in the upper half II to receivev cover plates 24 and 25, respectively,

the cover plates I9, 2|), 2li, and 25 being adapted to be rigidly secured to the housing I0 by suitable screws 2l.

The cover plates I9 and 2e are identical in construction, and consequently only the former will be described in detail. The cover plate I9 is pro vided with a tubular extension 2i which extends into the housing I0 and which is counterbored to receive the outer race of a ballbearing unit 28,

the inner end of the extension beingprovided with external threads 29. Similarly, the cover plates 20 and 25 are of identical construction. the cover plate 20 being provided with a ball bearing unit 3ll`therein. Journaled inthe bearing units 28 and 30 is a drive shaft 3i having an end 32 projecting from the housing It.

Carried`- on the drive shaft 3i is a drive pulley assembly 34 which includes drive pulleys 35, 36, and 31,' each of which consists of a movable pulley flange 38 and a fixed pulley flange 39. As will be noted, the fixed pulley flange 39 of the drive pulley is rigidly xed to the drive shaft 3l by means of a setscrew ,4L The fixed pulley anges of the drive pulleys 35, 36, and 31 are spaced apart by means of spacer sleeves 42 and 43 which exa tend through suitable openings drilled in the mov`= able flanges 38 of the pulleys 35 and at, and the fixed anges are rigidly clamped together by a screw rod 4t which is threaded into the fixed flange of the drive pulley 35 and has anouter f head 45 which is received in a suitable'recess 43 bearing block 41 and the outer end of which is formed in the fixed ange 39 of the drive pulley which journals the drive shaft 3i, by aligned spacer sleeves 48 which extend through suitable openings formedin the fixed flanges 39, the movable flanges being clamped rigidly together by a screw rod 49 passing through the spacer sleeves 48,one end of which is threaded into the provided with a head 50 received in a recess 6I formed in the movable flange 33 of the drive pulley. 31.` It will thus be appreciatedy that all of the movable flanges 33 are clamped rigidly together and tothe bearing block41, and that axial movement of the bearing block will cause axial xnovcmcutof the movable-flanges relative, to fthe 2 asaaon and includes an annular bearing unit 54, the in-A ner race of which is suitably nxed on-the bearing block 41 and the outer race of which is fixed by means' of a snap ring 55 in an actuating sleeve |56. The outer face of the actuating sleeve 56 ls provided with gear teeth 51 preferably set at a 45 angle and forming a wide gear face, and the sleeve is also provided with an internally threaded portion 58 which is threaded on the threads 29 of the tubular extension 21 of the cover Plate I9. v

The cover plates 24 and 25 are similarly provided with bearings 60 which journal a Adriven shaft 6I which carries a driven pulley assembly 62 comprised of driven pulleys, 64. and 65, each of which is comprised of a ilxed pulley iiange i8 and a movable pulley ilange 61.- The xed pulley flanges 66 are spaced apart and rigidly clamped together in the same general manner as 25 the iixed flanges 39 of the drive pulley assembly 14, the xed ilange 66 of the driven pulley -68 being rigidly secured to the, driven shaft 6i by means of a setscrew 88. The movable flange t1 of the driven pulley 63 is provided with a tubular hub 10, and the movable ilanges 81 are spaced apart by means of spacer sleeves 1| and 12 and are clamped rigidly together by means of a screw rod 13 similar to the screw rod 44 in the drive pulleyassembly 34. A driven pulley adjustment means 14 is provided .between the tubular hub 1l and the extension on the cover plate 24, similarly to the drive pulley adjustment means I3, and is constructed and functions in the same manner so that a detailed description thereof may be omitted. It will be understood that the tubular hub in the driven pulley assembly t2 is the full equivalent oi' the bearing block 41 of the drive pulley assembly 34. the driven pulley adlusting means 14 being provided with external gear teeth 1I similar to the gear teeth B1 of the drive pulley adjustment I3. Belts 18 operatively connect the drive and driven pulley assemblies 34 and 62.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the upper half Il, of the housing it is provided with bearing bosses 11 and 18 which journal a control rod 1l on one end of which is carried a hand-wheel Il, and on theother end oi'which is provided a set collar Il adapted to prevent axial movement of the control rod but permitting rotation thereof. A rst gear collar 82 is suitably rigidly fixed to the control rod 1l and is formed with spiral gear teeth 8l thereon, set at a 45 angle, which lengage with the gear teeth 51 of the drive pulley adjusting means 53. Also provided onthe control rod 19 is a second gear collar I4 having spiral gear teeth 85 formed on the periphery .thereof so as to engage the external gear teeth 1l of the driven pulley adjusting means 14, the gear teeth 8l likewise being set at 45 angle. The intermediate portion of the control rod 1! between the gear collars 82 and I4 is slightly enlargedandisexternallythreadedtoreceiveapair of stop collars Il and I1 threaded thereon, each being provided with a stop .lug il. Threaded on the threaded portion ofthe control rod 1l is an indicator collar It having stop lugs Il provided in Fig. 2, the indicator collar B9 has an upward projection 9| provided with a V-groove 92 which fits over a depending lip 93 formed on the upper half Il of the-housing l0. Secured to the up- 5 ward projection si, as by a screw I4, is an indi-V cator arm which extends out of the housing it through a longitudinal slot 98 formed in a top cover 91v adapted to normally close a top opening 98 formed in the upper half li of the housing 1010. As best shown in Fig. 1, the outer end of the indicator arm 95 registers with a scale 98 formed on the upper surface of the upper half Il oi the housing l0, which scale may be'calibrated in terms of the speed ratio between the drive and l5 driven shafts 3| and il, respectively. As will be apparent, rotation of the control rod 19 will move the indicator collar 89 axially along the control rod so as to change the position of the indicator arm 95 relative to the scale I8, the

20 stop collars 86 and 81 limiting axlal movement of the indicator collar. As will be apparent, by adjusting the positions of the stop collars 86 and 81' on the control rod 19,.l the degree of possible adjustment can be limited as desired.

As vshown in Fig. 4, the lower half I2 of the housing l0 is likewise provided with bearing bosses Ill and. Il! which are similar to the bear- 1 ing bosses 11 and 18V and which may be alternatively used to support the control rod 1t and the mechanism' associated therewith. As will valso be noted i'roxn Fig. 2, the lower half i2 of the housing I0 is also provided with an opening 103, similar to the top opening 98, and which is .adapted to be closed by a bottom cover plate |04,

which is likewise provided with a "longitudinal slot |05 through which the indicator arm 95 may be extended, and the exterior of the bottom half l2 is similarly provided with a scale identical with the scale 99. The lower half I2 of the hous- 40 ing Il is provided with foot members |06 and ll1 which are adapted to support the housing It and which may be fastened to any suitable base or support (not shown), although it is to be understood that the housing I0 may be inverted a on the foot members without changing the operation of the device. This feature makes the construction adaptable for installation in any one ot several positions. I

In operation, rotation of the hand-wheel l0 o causes a corresponding rotation of the control rod 1l and the gear collars t2 and 84 thereon. Rotation of the gear collar 82 causes rotation of the actuating sleeve Bt of the drive pulley adjusting means Il by reason of the interengageu ment of the gear teeth and the gear teeth i1,

and since the actuating sleeve is threaded onto the tubular extension 21, rotation thereof causes .the sameto move axially. The use oi' the spiral gear teeth Il and the mating angled gear teeth l0 l1 permits the actuating sleeve I8 to move axially while engagement' is maintained between the teeth. which is not possible with the conven- I tional gear and worm construction, and' this is a feature oi' the invention. Axial movement of the sactuating sleeve II is transmitted through the annular bearing unit I4 to the bearing block 41 and from it to each of the movable pulley flanges ll of the drive pulley assembly I4. simultaneously with the operation ot the drive pulley ad- 10 justing means the gear collar I4 causes operation of the driven pulley adjusting means 14 through the interengagement of the gear teeth 15 and the spiral gear teeth II. 'I'he drive pulley in each side thereof, each of which is adapted assembly 84 is so arranged that when the bearing to engage one oi the stop lugs sl. As best shown u block 41 moves to the right, as seen in Fig. 3,

each of the movable'vflanges 38 will move away from its corresponding fixed flange 38and upon similar rightward movement of the tubular hub 18 of the driven pulley assembly 62, the movable pulley flanges 61 will moveV toward the fixed pulley flanges 68. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, axial movement of the movable anges 38 away from the fixed anges 39 will decrease the effective diameter of the drive pulleys 35, 36, and 31, and a reverse axial movement ofthe movable flanges will increase the eifective diameter of the drive pulleys. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the drive pulleys v 35, 36, and 31 are adjusted to their maximum effective diameter. Similarly, axial movement of the movable flanges 61 relative to the fixed flanges 66 of the driven pulley assembly 62 will vary the effective diameter of the driven pulleys 63, 64, and 65 between'maxlmum and minimum, they being shown in Fig. 3 in their position of minimum effective diameter. It is .also tobe noted that the driven pulleyassembly 82 has driven pulleys of substantially greater diameter than the diameter of'the drive pulleys in the drive pulley assembly 34 so as to provide a'greater,

The cover plates I9 and 24 are provided with lubricating means adapted to lubricate the pulley adjustment means and the bearings 28 and 68,

. respectively, retained therein. For this purpose,

as shown in Fig. 2, a lubricant passage |08 isy flange member being provided with a ,threaded said threaded portion and having gear teeth lformed integrally thereon, said tubular element being axially movable in response to rotation -thereof bearing means connecting ,said tubular element and the movable iiange of said variablediameter pulley structure; a spiral gear connected to said gear teeth so as to rotate said tubular element to move the same bodily axially in response to rotation of said spiral gear so as to vary the effective diameter of said variablediameter pulley; and actuating means for rotating said spiral gear. y

2. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; means for supporting said shafts in spaced relation; a drive pulley structure onsaid drive shaft; a driven-pulleystructure on said driven shaft, one of said structuresbeing of the variable-diameter V-type including a pair of flanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; belt means operatively connecting said structures; a

tubular flange member axially -aligned with said variable-diameter. pulley structure, said tubular portion; a tubular element threaded to said threaded portion and having gear' teeth formed integrally thereon. presenting a relatively wide gear face, said tubular element being axially movable in response to rotation thereof; bearing means connecting said tubular element and the movable ange of said variable-diameter pulley structure; a spiral'gear connected tosaid gear teeth so as -to rotate'said tubular element to move the sameI bodily axially in-response to rotation of said spiral gear so as to vary the effective diameter lof said variable-diameter pulley,

said gear teeth being adapted to maintain said tubular element in operative engagement with said spiral gear throughout a substantial axial movement of said tubular element'relativeto said spiral gear;` and'actuating means for rotatprovided in each of the cover plates I 8 and 24,

the outer end of which is closed by a screw plug |09. By removing the screw plug |89, lubricant may be forced through the lubricant passage |08 into the interior of the tubular projection 21,

from which it readily works intothe bearingsv thereof may be replaced by other parts and elev ments having the same function and method of operation, and therefore we do not intend to be limited to the specific construction shown, but

desire to be afforded the full scope of the fol lowing claims. l

We claim as our invention: 1. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a drive shaft; a driven shaft; means for supporting said shafts-in spaced relation; a drive pulley structure on 'said drive shaft; a

driven pulley structure on said driven shaft, one' of said structures being of the variable-diameter V-type including a pair oi' flanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; belt means operatively connecting said structures; a stationary tubular flange member axially aligned ing said spiral gear.

3. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a housing: a drive shaft in said housing; a' driven shaft in saidhousing; a drive pulley structure onsaid drive shaft; a driven pulley structure on said driven shaft, one of said pulley structures being of the variable-diameter V-type including a pair of flanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; belt means. operatively connecting said pulley structures; an opening in said housing aligned with the axis of said variable-diameter pulley structure; a cover plate secured -to said housing so as to close said opening; bearing means on said cover plate adapted to journal one end ofv the shaft on which said variable-diameter pulley is disposed; adjustment means in said housing and Y threaded to said cover plate and removable from A to vary the effective diameter of said variable-- diameter pulley structure in response to rotationof said adjustment means; actuating means for with said variable-diameter pulley structure. said said housing with said cover plate, said adjust- A rotating said adjustment means; and lubricating means carrledby said cover plate for lubricating said bearing means and said adjustment means.

4. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a housing: a first shaft in said housim: a second shaft inlsaid housing: a variablediameter. pulley structure of the V-type on said first vshaft, including` a .pair of flange members one of which is axially movable relative to the belt means operatively connecting said pulley structures: a pair of aligned openings in said lhousing; a first removable cover plate closing one of said openings; a second removable cover plate closing the other of said openings; bearing means carried by said first cover plate and journaling one end of said first shaft: bearing means carried by the other of said cover plates and journaling the other end of said rst shaft: adiustment means threaded 'on one of said cover plates and operatively connected to said movable flange and adapted to be rotated to movesaid movable nange axially to vary the effective diameter of said variable-diameter pulley structure; and rotating means for actuating said adjustment means.

5. In a variable-speed transmission, theicombination of: a housing having -an opening in one side thereof; a shaft in said housing axially valigned with said opening; a variable-diameter pulley ofthe V-type on said shaft including a 4p'air of flanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; a cover plate adapted to close said opening and having a threaded tubular member extending into said housing; a tubular element threadedly carried by said tubular memmovement of said movable flange; and actuatingmeans operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element to move the same axially. l

6. In a. variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a housing having an opening in one side thereof; a shaft in said housing axially aligned with said opening: a variable-diameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft including a pair of -ilariges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; a cover plate adapted to close said opening and having a threaded tubular member extending into said housing; first bearing means in said housing opposite to `said opening for supporting one end of said shaft; second bearing means carried by said cover plate for supporting the other end of said shaft; a 50 tubular element threadedly carried by said tubular member and axially movable in response to rotation thereof annular gear teeth on said tubular element and nxed against axial movement relative thereto: means for connecting said tubular element with said movable flange so that axial movement of said tubular element causes' axial movement of said movable flange; and actuatingmeans operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element to move the same-axially.

7. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: ahousing having an opening in one side thereof; a shaft in said housing axially aligned with said opening; .a variable-diameter pulley of the. V-type on said shaft including a pair of flanges one 4of which is axially movable relative to the other; a cover plate adapted to close said opening and having a threaded tubular member extending into said housing; a tubular element threadedly carried by saidtubular member and axially movable vin response to rotation thereof, said tubular element having gear teeth fixed thereon: a spiral gear connected to` said gear teeth so that rotation of said gear causes assenti rotation of said tubular element; and actustin means for rotating said spiral gear. p

8. In a'varlablfspeed transmission, the combination of: a housing having an opening in one 5 side thereof; a shaft in said housing axially aligned with said opening; avariable-diameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft including a pair of flanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; a cover plate adapted to close said opening and having a threaded tubular member extending into said housing; a tubular element threadedly carried by said tubular member and axially movablein response to rotation thereof, said opening being suillciently large to permit the removal from said housing of said tubular element with said cover plate as a unit; gear teeth on said tubular element and ilxed against axial movement relative thereto; means for connecting said tubular element with said movable flange so that axial movement of said ltubular element causes axial movement of said movable flange; and actuating means operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element to move the-same.v axially.

for supporting the other end of said shaft: a tubular element threadediy carried by said tubular member and axially movable in response to rotation thereof, said cover plate, tubular element, and second bearingmeans being removable as aunit from said housing through said opening: gear teeth on said tubular element and ilxed against axial movement relative thereto; 5 means for connecting said tubular element with said vmovable flange so that axial movement of said tubular element'causes axial movement of `said movable flange; and actuating means operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element to move the same axially.

10. In a variable-speed transmission, the combination of: a housing havingga p'air of spaced side walls, each of said walls having an opening therein; a first cover plate adapted to close one of said openings; bearing means carried by said ilrst cover plate: asecond cover plate adapted to .close the other of said openings. said second cover plate having a threaded tubular member extending into said housing; bearing means 00 carried by said second cover plaie; a shaft rotatably supported by said bearing means; a variable-diameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft including a pair of' ilanges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; a tubular ele- 05 ment threadedly carricd by said'tubular member and axially movable in response to rotation thereof; gear teeth on said tubular element and fixed against axial movement relative thereto: lmeans for connecting said tubular element with said movable flange so that axial movement of said tubular element causes axial movement of said movable flange; and actuating means operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element to move the same axially. 7,5 '11. In a variable-speed transmission, the com- 9. In a variable-speed transmission, the com opening for supporting one end of said shaft:l

second bearing means carried by said cover plaie bination of a housing having an opening in one side thereof; a shaft in said housing axially aligned with said opening; a variable-diameter pulley of the V-type on said shaft including a pair of ahges one of which is axially movable relative to the other; a coverplate adapted to close said opening and having a tubular member rigidly associated therewith and extending into said housing, said tubular member having an interna] bearing-supporting annular channel and being externally threaded adjacent its inner end; annular bearing means carried in said channel and rotatably supporting.: one end of said shaft; a

tubular element threadedly carried by said tubular member and axialiy movable in response to rotation thereof; spiral gear teeth on said tubular element and fixed against movement relative thereto; bearing means connecting said tubular element with said movable flange; and an actuating gear operatively connected to said gear teeth for rotating said tubular element, said gear teeth moving across the face of said actuating 10 gear upon rotation of said tubular element.

CARL E. JOHNSON. EARL MENDENHALL.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,5112,91; 1. February 29, 191111.

CARL E. JOHNSON, ET A1..

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification -of the above numbered patent requiring' correction as follows: Page 1;., first column, line l5, claim 14 for "rotating means vfor actuating read --actu- :ting means for rotatingn; and that the said Letters Patent should be rend with 1111s oorrection therein that the same may conform to the record or 'the se 1n the Patent office.

` signed and sealed this 25rd day of nay, A. D. 1914141.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissione;` of Ptents. 

